| This study examines whether "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) as a philosophical ethical frame of reference is still, in light of globalization, a tenable and persuasive ethical language for business, especially for "transnational corporations" (TNCs). The project responds to this question throughout the whole essay, and articulates the concept of CSR from the business ethics literature, focusing on four key questions of responsibility: to whom, on what basis, for what and to what extent. The project examines the nature of globalization in its general features and especially in its ethical presuppositions, using the perspectives of three leading scholars, Roland Robertson, Anthony Giddens, and David Held. It then proposes a particular formulation of globalization for use in this study in order to examine how CSR of TNCs needs to be understood in a globalizing world. The project then returns to the discussion of CSR of TNCs within a general scheme of a spatio-temporal path from the pre-conceptualization period of CSR (period of mercantilism, 1500--1800 and the 19th and early 20th century period of industrialization in the U.S., 1800--1930) to the conceptualization of CSR in the U.S. (Development of CSR in the U.S., 1930--1970), and Contemporary Globalization, 1970--present). Finally, a number of additional implications of CSR for TNCs in globalizing world are formulated in terms of a new basis---human dignity and basic needs---and explored in relation to three central ethical issues of the globalizing world: poverty, labor relations and the environment.; This study argues that the concept of CSR as articulated in the business ethics literature is an adequate moral language in dealing with complex social ethical issues in a globalizing world if adapted as indicated. Because TNCs have chosen to do business and so interact widely, and to make rights claims in a world that has increasingly the characteristics of globalization, their obligations in order to fulfill their CSR derive not only from the bases of charity, stewardship and social expectations. Human dignity and basic human rights are an equally fundamental basis for CSR and identify moral minimums for TNCs making this choice and making rights claims in a globalizing world. |
